World's #1 Dad...Addicted to Stamps and More #193~Holiday, Addicted to CAS Challenge #87~Plaid

Hello!

Time for my marvelous DT and I to welcome you to Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #193~Holiday.

For some odd reason, I had a heckuva time deciding on my direction for this challenge. Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day were just not calling - or even whispering - my name. Finally, I narrowed the field, choosing Father's Day, because that will be upon us in a blink of an eye.  Then, I couldn't figure out what to make, given my dad isn't with us any longer (sad face), BUT I was bound and determined to forge ahead.  We have 'another' dad in our family - my brother - so I pulled out some of my niece and nephew's favourite colours (which is justification for the maybe-no-so-much "typical' guy palette), which just happened to correspond with a sheet of plaid paper I have, and went to town with the sentiments *grin*

I'll give it to them to give to him...or maybe I'll just send it from me.  I rather like this jazzy number and my brother is an amazing, fantastic, five-star dad, too!

This week, we're sponsored by

Blog: http://slslinesdigitalstamps.blogspot.ca

Blog: http://stamplorations.blogspot.ca

who have some wonderful gifts for the winners.

Okey-dokey...Your turn!

Looking forward to seeing your holiday themed cards in the gallery!

Also sharing at:

Addicted to CAS Challenge #87~Plaid

Winnie & Walter~Join in to Win

Thank you for spending time with me today;  your visit brings me immense joy!

 

Amazing Butterflies...Fusion~Sweet Orange Blossoms, Just Us Girls #342~Butterfly, STAMPlorations~Anything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Stencil It

Hello,

Hope your Monday was marvelous! Here, it's cool and a bit drizzly.  We need the rain, desperately. Actually, the firefighters in the nearly-burned out city nine hours north of us - Fort McMurray - need rain and cool temperatures, desperately. I'm not sure if you've seen/heard the news, but close to 100,000 people have been displaced due to a raging beast of a fire that flared up last week. So sad...On the plus side, they're resilient folks, those Fort Mac people, and already, they're preparing, when the word is given, to return, revitalize, re-emerge.  I wish them God-speed in getting their lives - their 'new' lives - started. May their journey 'home' be safe...secure...promising.

I have a card to share!

When I created my dragonflies card, as seen in my previous post, the butterflies from the same set were fluttering their wings for a chance to play, too.  And so they did!

My inspiration, as with the dragonflies, is FUSION~Sweet Orange Blossoms

See...

NOTE:  Thrilled and honoured to be selected as Chic of the Week over at Just Us Girls! THANK YOU!

I {heart} this Winged Things set! Thank you, Shirley, for designing it for me us *grin*

Also joining the galleries at
Just Us Girls #342~Word Week~Butterfly

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Stencil It

STAMPlorations~Anything Goes

I so appreciate you spent part of your day with me; your visit brings me immense joy!

Marching Birthday Bunny...Muse Challenge #164, CASometry Challenge 2~Make Five, CASology#196~MOVE

Hello,

Happy Mother's Day to all my wonderful *mom* friends!  Hope this day sees you spoiled, pampered and treated to an outpouring of love from  your family!

We're off to the 'big' city today for a bit of shopping, so I'm dashing in quickly with my card inspired by our marvelous Michele's lilac delight over at Muse Challenge #164:

Isn't this ever so pretty?!  Alas, I don't have any lilac/vase stamps/dies, and the flower images I do have...well, I struggle with floral arrangements. Soooooo...I went in a different direction...giggle...

Told you!  My card does draw inspiration from Michele's gem, with the colours (grey, purple and green: check); the circle background (check) and an 'on your left' sentiment (check).  I know...perhaps a stretch but...Muse Michele moved me to create this...

Speaking of 'move', I'm sending my bunny off to CASology #196~Move

I'm also joining incredibly talented and sweet Anna's challenge: CASometry Challenge 2~Make Five, where over the next few weeks, we're invited to use the same stamp set to create five different cards. You'll be seeing more marching bunnies from me!!

Thank you for spending time with me; your visit brings me immense joy!

Birthday Dragonflies...Inkspirational Challenge #108~Mint & Navy, FUSION~Sweet Orange Blossoms, Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #9, Seize the Birthday-Topping Option: Colouring, STAMPlorations May CAS Card Challenge~Anything Goes and Anything Goes Challenge

Hello,

A new month; a new challenge. For the next two weeks, my amazing DT (and a special welcome back to Yvonne!), along with our incredibly talented guest designer, TaeEun, invite you to join us at Inkspirational Challenge #108~Colour Challenge

Mint & Navy...Mint & Navy...I confess to initial cluelessness with this combination.  Then my  new Winged Things set (Bee's Knees, STAMPlorations) caught my eye and this happened...

Dragonflies, coloured with Polychromos navy and light green pencils, stenciling (Cracked Pistachio), a coat of Wink of Stella on the wings...Voila.  In fact, I liked the result so much, I made another, slightly different, which you'll see in an upcoming post.

Turning the challenge your direction!

How will Mint & Navy inspire you?

Looking forward to finding out when I visit the gallery!  See you there!

Also sharing at:
FUSION~Sweet Orange Blossoms

Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #9~Birthday, Sponging, White Space

Seize the Birthday-Topping Option: Colouring

STAMPlorations May CAS Card Challenge~Anything Goes and Anything Goes Challenge

and

Thank you for spending time with me today; your visit brings me immense joy!

Quartet of Floral Butterflies...Guest Designer at Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog #55~Use A Die Cut

Hello,

I'm sure nobody was entirely surprised by the first part of my post title (and I hope no eye-ball rolling happened either *grin*), but the second part?  Did that catch your attention as a bit of a different direction?  Hope so!

Today, I am 120% honoured and thrilled to be the

for Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog #55~Use A Die Cut

What a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of the absolutely wonderful products over at Serendipity and support Mary and her amazing team in this challenge.  Of course, I went just a wee bit overboard but...when marvelous things come my way, I want to be sure my appreciation comes through loud and clear.  The quartet today feature Floral Butterfly Die and Celebrate Die paired with  Make A Wish and Hot Air Balloons stamps.

First up, a rainbow-inked card providing the background for the negatives of the butterfly (oh, so intricate, delicate and beautiful!) and celebrate dies.  

Second, how could I 'not' do a little stenciling?  Abandoned Coral, Fossilized Amber and Seedless Preserves in the background, with the butterfly (see...told you it's gorgeous!) inked with a heavy helping of Seedless Preserves.

Third: a sunset/sunrise palette..on the butterfly and...

in the aperture background.  A sentiment from the Hot Air Balloons stamps and some splatters finish it off.

Last, the butterfly simply as is, in all its floral-splendid glory...

(I wish I could take credit for that water-colour background, but you know how well 

water-colour and I do NOT get along! This is a "professional" card base from my stash.) 

Swooning...simply swooning over this incredible die...

I'd love to see you join in the challenge and the talented Serendipity DT has oodles of inspiration to spark your mojo. Be sure to hop along; there's a prize to be had!  

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Vickie Zimmer

Jeanne Jachna 

Jenny Gropp

Julie Warner

Karen Amidon

As well, here's the 50% off stamp of the month: Lemonade Pitcher.  Wouldn't you love to colour that in shades of lemon...or grapefruit...or strawberry...

Thank you to Jeanne and Mary for inviting me to be this month's Guest Designer!  Looking forward to seeing everyone's *Use A Die Cut* creations...

Also entering at:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes

Thank you for spending time with me today; your visit brings me immense joy!

Thanks A Bunch...Cupcake Inspiration Challenges #358~Lilac, Apricot and Grey

Hello,

Sunday morning...and  an invitation to join the DT  over at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #358, with this gorgeous palette!  Seriously oh-so-pretty! The tantalizing strawberry-lime cupcakes are incredibly lovely and paired with the slate gray plate and flowers...my word!

Source
If you have time, do check out the source blog, Hint of Vanilla:  magical! If you love rhubarb,
you will be blown away with what she does with it. And the strawberry and mint scones...and the layercakes...and eclairs  and COFFEE donuts!  Decadent and delicious. Her photography is stellar, too!  Works of art!! (Bonus: she's Canadian *grin*)

Anyway, I digress...(my tastebuds made me stray...)

I had zero clue what to do with this luscious lilac, apricot and grey scheme that would do justice to both the colours and the inspiration photo.  Then, like magic, I saw Karolyn's card here. And so, I set about creating a case of her lovely roses that transformed into this...

I *think* I achieved my colours + image goal. What do you think?

Next steps:  all yours!  Pull out your lilacs, apricots, grays and join us in the gallery! 

Excited to see what you create this week!

Thank you for spending time with me today; your visit brings me immense joy!

You are my Sunshine x 2...CAS(E) this Sketch #169, Little Tangles Challenge #67~Die-Cutting, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes, Tuesday Throwdown #291~Anything Goes, Words 2 Craft By~April Suns and April Shadows

Hello!

Okay, how did it get to be Wednesday evening so quickly? More important, how is it that April is rapidly coming to a close? I need time to sloooowwwww down!

Speaking of being slow: pick me! Again! I'm dashing in with a card I made earlier today -  crafting therapy required after my 'long day at the office' - and one made some other day. Can't remember (see...time goes so fast my thinking can't keep up!).  The "when" doesn't matter, but the "who for" does...and these are heading to the two little *sunshines* in my life, Ms. Niece and Mr. Nephew.

My first card was inspired by CAS(E) this Sketch #169, which had me 'nearly' not playing until some new Neat & Tangled goodies (a very small order of three must haves) arrived yesterday. Timely, right!

Of course, new N&T also means heading over to Little Tangles Challenge #67~Die-Cutting

Here they are...more rainbows and sunshine...

NOTE: Thrilled and honoured to be selected as a CTS #169 Favourite. THANK YOU!!

NOTE: Doubly thrilled to be Noticed by Neat and Tangled! THANK YOU! 

NOTE: Incredibly thrilled to be the Challenge Winner at Words 2 Craft By

Anything Goes over at Simon Says Wednesday Challenge, so I'm making an appearance in their gallery,

/as well as at Tuesday Throwdown #291, with the same theme.  Words 2 Craft By is inviting us to join in their April Suns and April Shadows challenge, so I'm bringing my suns over to their place.

Thanks so much for spending time with me today; your visit brings me immense joy!